The graphics in HSG2 are, without a doubt, the best golf game graphics on pretty much any system. The rain is gorgeous, the streaks on the green are gorgeous, the backgrounds are gorgeous, and the character models are very well done, if a bit silly. This game is splendid to watch as well as to play, as my father can attest to. The various caddies range from annoying to quite good, and you can pick and choose (with more choices later in the game). The music is typical Japanese fare, and thankfully it's turned off by default while you're actually on the course. The menus themselves are very well presented in graphical form, from selecting your player and course to selecting which mode of play to attempt. Overall, the presentation of Hot Shots Golf 2 matches and beats its predecessor.

Amazingly enough, the gameplay beats its predecessor as well. A different company, Clap Hanz, made this one (instead of our old friends at Camelot), but you really won't be able to tell the difference. Sure, the characters aren't super-deformed anime style any more, but otherwise the game is just as good. The experience system has been replaced with points, which basically work the same way. There are many play modes to choose from -- Stroke, where you hook up the multi-tap and play with up to three of your friends for the highest score on any opened course, Match Play, where you play one-on-one for the best score on each hole, Tournament mode, which lets you collect points and open up new courses, clubs, balls, and goodies, Vs. mode, where you play against characters you don't have yet -- a win means you get them, 9-Hole Par 3, a sort of 'quickie' game, and Training, which lets you play any hole you have access to, to try to figure it out the best. As you beat Tournaments, new courses, clubs, and balls open up for you to use. This is a very cool feature.

Now, as many of you may realize, I'm mainly an RPG guy. Why am I reviewing Hot Shots Golf 2? Because it's an amazingly fun game. I picked the first one up for rave reviews, and I just had to have this one as well. And let me tell you, it is worth the price of admission. The golf physics are amazingly solid, the character design is great, the multi-player is a blast, and most importantly, the game itself is amazingly fun, even for non-golfers. The computer basically 'guides' you as to where you should shoot and which club you should use, but you can feel free to adjust how you like, fly around the course to see just what's coming up, and more. After a little while, the game's mechanisms become second nature, and you're having hours of fun before you know it.

Most of the beginner Vs. battles and Tournaments are really easy. The later ones are insanely hard. Don't say I didn't warn you. This game runs the gamut of difficulty.

The physics engine is solid, and the controls are as well. Dual Shock support would have been nice, as well as a little finer control on the ball, but that's a terribly minor gripe for such a superb game. If you like golf games, you probably have the first, and you definitely need the second. If you don't like them, you should give it a try anyway. I did, and believe me, I'm hooked. Both games in the series are absolutely wonderful, but Hot Shots Golf 2 comes out as the winner in terms of graphics, gameplay, and fun. No other golf game comes close.